Summer Candlelight Magic
Here are a few creative ways to add magical candle-glow to your
summer activities. We include directions for a fun, biodegradable
picnic candle-holder, how-to instructions for making luminaria,
summery spirit-lifting candle ideas for meals indoors and out, and
an important feng shui tip, all right here:
Picnic candle-holder
Turn over a carved-out half of a watermelon rind. Cut a few holes in
the rind that are big enough for tapers, and voila! You have an
amusing, biodegradable centerpiece. Light the candles as twilight
falls, and settle down to listen to tall tales, stories about your
ancestors from visiting relatives, or just the cricket symphony
playing as the stars make their entrance in the dark of the sky.
Luminaria
You can welcome guests with a row of luminaria along the path to
your door. Luminaria are paper bags filled with sand, with candles
set into them. See these easy directions on how to make luminaria.
To repel pests outdoors
When you're entertaining outside, candles can set the mood and repel
bothersome mosquitoes. Citronella, which has a delectable lemony
smell to us humans, is unpleasant to mosquitoes, so add citronella
candles lavishly around your patio or garden. (And please check to
be sure you're using all-natural citronella, not a synthetic.)
Floating candles
Lights reflected in water soothe the soul and lift the spirits. You
can buy flat-bottomed floating candles to place in individual bowls
in front of each guest at your table, or place several in a larger
bowl in the center. For an aura of romance, add fresh flowers to the
bowls.
Protection for your candles
Whether you're planning a romantic dinner on the balcony, or a
candle-lit evening of family fun, your outdoor candles will need
some protection so the wind doesn't blow them out or--worse!--blow
them over, creating a risk of fire. Always place candles in glasses
or hurricane- lamp shades to keep them safe. You can anchor them in
place with a few drops of hot wax.
Feng Shui Tip
Whether indoors or outdoors, avoid placing candles in the west or
northwest areas of the house or garden. Feng shui experts believe
that these areas are "metal" areas, and fire can melt them or
eliminate the strength of these places.
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